Panic attacks in crowded places

LegacyUser

Hi, I am a 21 yr old male and have always felt a bit uncomfortable in crowded places. I guess it depends though on where I am and what type of environment I am in. For example, I don't usually ever have problems at live concerts or busy bars/nightclubs as I am usually drinking and in a social mood. However going in to my local shopping mall in my home town is a different story and I get a strong uncomfortable feeling that people are looking at me. I know this sounds crazy and no I don't actually believe that people are looking at me but it is just the fact that I am in a place where people know me that makes me feel very awkward. Anyway I am well able to avoid having to go in to places like this that I am uncomfortable with so its hardly ever a problem.

However lately I have been feeling very strong discomfort going to college lectures. I don't know anybody in college (my own fault in many ways as I didn't participate in the early stages) and when I go in there I get very panicked and edgy. I hate walking through the busy halls when everybody is paired up in groups and feel once again like everybody is looking at me. When I walk in to a crowded lecture hall I get a horrible sensation that everybody in the room knows each other and are all judging me in some way because I am alone. In reality very few people actually know most others and most people just have their small groups of friends but I still feel this way.

I am normally a really easy going person and never feel like this but I think it is when I am in an environment that I am not confident in, this results in panic attacks. I am at the point now where it is getting worse every day and I find it very tough to talk to people in college as a result. I feel like everybody thinks I am odd or something because I am always alone. I have even started using back entrances to lecture buildings to avoid passing crowds of people, I hate this type of behaviour but I cannot help it. I tell myself that there are thousands of students and most people have probably never even seen me before when they pass me by each day. I try to think logically and go in fresh the next day but still these feelings of anxiety and panic come on as soon as I go in. I dunno what to do, as soon as I am home or with friends I am fine and relaxed but it is making days really tough to get through and I fear it will get worse and I'll have some sort of a break down or something.

Can anybody please advise?
Thanks

Victor

What you are calling panic attacks may not be panic attacks in the clinical sense. However, whatever is happening does seem to be disruptive to your life, so I would suggest the first stop is to talk to your GP.